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Chicago favorite Renee Matthews has been much in demand since walking away from this year's "Jeff" Awards with Best Supporting Actress in a Musical honors. Matthews parlayed her salty, chain-smoking, tough-talking pianist Jeanette in "The Full Monty" at Drury Lane Water Tower Theatre into a showstopping tour de force. Next up for the sprightly Ms. Matthews is another salty, tough-talking senior citizen in Apple Tree Theatre's production of "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife." Renee reports that this will be her first time working with the real-life acting couple Paula Scrofano and John Reeger since co-starring with Paula 13 years ago in the Candlelight Forum Theatre production of "Ruthless." It also reunites her with Jeff Award-winner Hollis Resnik, with whom she last appeared in a Candlelight production of "Bye, Bye, Birdie" in 1980. Should be like old times for this multi-talented, award-winning cast, which will perform the Tony nominated Charles Busch comedy February 22-March 19, 2006.
And speaking of "Ruthless," Renee has just learned that she has been chosen to recreate her Candlelight Forum role for the Noble Fool Theatre's summer staging of the campy musical at Pheasant Run Resort. "Ruthless" gleefully spoofs such showbiz sources as "Gypsy," "All About Eve," and "The Bad Seed" as a precocious 10-year-old does anything she can to become a star. Matthews plays the role of a theatre critic who hates musicals, but it's a safe bet that Chicago critics will look kindly at this hilarious lady's interpretation. No additional casting has been announced for the June-August run.
Renee Matthews is a familiar face not only to Chicago theatregoers for recent roles in "Over the River and through the Woods" and "Fiddler on the Roof," but also her Nexium commercials with fellow Chicago veteran actor Bernie Landis. Following her Jeff winning role in "The Full Monty," Renee recreated her legendary 2-person show based on the life of Yiddish star Molly Picon in a limited sold-out run at Chicago Jewish Theatre. Producer Elayne LeTraunik has reportedly been in negotiations for Matthews and co-star Gerald Bailey to perform the show at her new Skokie venue. That may still happen, but it will have to wait for Renee to make herself "Ruthless".
-Joe Stead |
Theatre In Chicago News Contributor Joe Stead has spent over 20 years as a critic, director, designer and performer. His reviews currently appear online at www.steadstylechicago.com.